Why would Bertha revenge herself upon the patriarchy when the patriarchy keep her from the horrifying fate of the madhouse? She wasn’t concealed by a cruel power structure, she was cared for as well as possible while her own mind degraded her. The feminist interpretation always has one conclusion and it lacks subtlety.
I thought the same. After all Rochester could have had Bertha locked up in an institution and left her. He didn't do that. He also took the little girl in when her mother abandoned her even when he thought she might not be his. He wasn't such a horrible man after all. Also, the Catholic Church said if someone married without full will and it came out after the marriage, the marriage would be found to be null and void. Rochester said, "By that time it was found that Bertha was mad so I could not divorce her". Not true but maybe it was in his church. Many issues she did not touch on.
I suffered a few mentions of patriarchy but at the assertion that Bertha protested in solidarity with Jane I had to quit listening. Maybe you said something of value after this but really the amount of pandering to the zeitgeist that modern academics do, to the degree of shutting their brains down, defies belief.
Not sure I agree with the “sex is everywhere” interpretations of classics. Seriously, what would Charlotte, the somewhat-sheltered spinster daughter of a minister in an already repressive era, know about abusive sex? Charlotte was not making a statement about racism. She was unknowingly revealing the attitudes and mores of the times. I think looking at classical literature through modern eyes can ruin it. At least it does for me. Wide Sargasso Sea is a compelling novel, presenting very effectively Bertha’s backstory from a feminist perspective, by a modern 20th Century author with all the knowledge and insight of and into the 4000 years of patriarchy. But Jane/Charlotte is actually a feminist, too. Remember her walking on the ramparts of Thornfield, talking about how women need to live meaningful lives of work? Leaving Lowood to find something new and interesting to do? She was never a husband-hunter. Jane Eyre was a career girl!
i finish reading jane eyre and was really into watching interesting lecture about the story. it never really cross my mind how bertha has such a big part on janes story.
Great to see Cathy. Excellent lecture. Cathy taught me English A'Level at DLD when it was based in Notting Hill back in 1993 23 years ago. Cathy hasn't changed a bit. Many fond memories of my time at DLD :)
English is not my first language, so I think I miss a bit of the lecture in the translation. But she talked about a part where someone sees Bertha's naked body and say that Rochester is rough with her. And then latter the professor also says that Rochester at some point said that Bertha's was very close to die. But I dont recall anything of that matter in the book. Is she talking about a TV series?
@@jamiengo2343 It’s the same idea when you go to an art museum and someone tries to lecture you on what the artist is truing to say. Let the viewer find that out for themselves. Jane eyre had multitudes of layers and depths of thought. Let the reader figure it outs. JMO
@@NEMO-NEMO well in a lecture the idea is you’re supposed to learn about a particular viewpoint/belief from an experienced professional, that’s why you pay the money to go to uni in the first place lol
Could the concealment of Bertha, taking that she's coloured, be a sort of display of the shame of the colonisation and such of the earlyer English Empire ?
certainly. critics have noted how bertha appears to be an embodiment of rochester, the archetypal coloniser/patriarch's sins against women and the colonised. she is also everything that is deemed inappropriate in a victorian woman, and so must be concealed from society - the same logic can be applied onto colonised people and especially those that do not conform to traditional ideas of englishness. and so by exposing bertha in the end, he effectively strips himself of the role of the oppressor, and simultaneously grants jane eyre and bertha mason (in a way) freedom. but you can also argue that charlotte bronte is far too proud of her english identity to ever have intended bertha's character to embody much more than female oppression wrapped up in a nice package of offensive racial caricature.
I don’t think the text itself subverts Jane’s views of Bertha. That is, the colonialist gaze of Jane (and to some extent Rochester) over Bertha is shared by the text.
I just stumbled on this. This is a very interesting lecture. I like that she shows similarities in other books about how women are treated. When men wrote most books back then, the last thing they will ever admit is men being in the wrong in respect to women. Most men refuse women any kind of respect.
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I don’t believe that Charlotte Bronte meant all these things while writing the novel.
Same
Me neither
Agree. I think a lot of people are eager to have this be the message, but I don't think it was Bronte's intention
I would be pleased to listen to a good lecture or analysis about supernatural, suspense and mystery in Jane Eyre.
Why would Bertha revenge herself upon the patriarchy when the patriarchy keep her from the horrifying fate of the madhouse? She wasn’t concealed by a cruel power structure, she was cared for as well as possible while her own mind degraded her. The feminist interpretation always has one conclusion and it lacks subtlety.
I thought the same. After all Rochester could have had Bertha locked up in an institution and left her. He didn't do that. He also took the little girl in when her mother abandoned her even when he thought she might not be his. He wasn't such a horrible man after all. Also, the Catholic Church said if someone married without full will and it came out after the marriage, the marriage would be found to be null and void. Rochester said, "By that time it was found that Bertha was mad so I could not divorce her". Not true but maybe it was in his church. Many issues she did not touch on.
I suffered a few mentions of patriarchy but at the assertion that Bertha protested in solidarity with Jane I had to quit listening. Maybe you said something of value after this but really the amount of pandering to the zeitgeist that modern academics do, to the degree of shutting their brains down, defies belief.
This lecturer is fantastic.
Not sure I agree with the “sex is everywhere” interpretations of classics. Seriously, what would Charlotte, the somewhat-sheltered spinster daughter of a minister in an already repressive era, know about abusive sex?
Charlotte was not making a statement about racism. She was unknowingly revealing the attitudes and mores of the times.
I think looking at classical literature through modern eyes can ruin it. At least it does for me.
Wide Sargasso Sea is a compelling novel, presenting very effectively Bertha’s backstory from a feminist perspective, by a modern 20th Century author with all the knowledge and insight of and into the 4000 years of patriarchy. But Jane/Charlotte is actually a feminist, too. Remember her walking on the ramparts of Thornfield, talking about how women need to live meaningful lives of work? Leaving Lowood to find something new and interesting to do? She was never a husband-hunter. Jane Eyre was a career girl!
i finish reading jane eyre and was really into watching interesting lecture about the story. it never really cross my mind how bertha has such a big part on janes story.
Wonderful lecture, opening up the novel and associated ideas. Why is the lecturer not identified? Who is she?
I think she's Cathy David!
I stumbled across this lecture and I am so glad I did. I wish I had a teacher like her when I was at school.
Great to see Cathy. Excellent lecture. Cathy taught me English A'Level at DLD when it was based in Notting Hill back in 1993 23 years ago. Cathy hasn't changed a bit. Many fond memories of my time at DLD :)
Very good lecture; but the title is misleading, since it is solely focused on Bertha Mason :/ - not quite my favourite character in the novel.
This is great,answering the deep gothic theme,and with ease.
This should've been called "Bertha Lecture."
Really enjoyed watching this.
I want to read more about this lecturer, Cathy What?
...maids are hung...
Is it acceptable grammatically?
We were taught it's hanged for living things and hung for nonliving..so i m confused
English is not my first language, so I think I miss a bit of the lecture in the translation. But she talked about a part where someone sees Bertha's naked body and say that Rochester is rough with her. And then latter the professor also says that Rochester at some point said that Bertha's was very close to die. But I dont recall anything of that matter in the book. Is she talking about a TV series?
She is talking about "wide sargasso sea", wich is a book about Berthas perspective. :)
@@AmimieXD ooh I see. Thank you :)
22:41 alter identity name change, 24:15 lived in gaps between stories bertha
Great lecture! Currently writing an assignment on madness in Jane Eyre and this was very helpful
Who is the professor? She's excellent.
I want to know this also :D
*****
I love her!!
Someone said her first names Cathy but I’m unsure of her last name
@@l0veLY111 its Cathy David I think
A wonderful lecture, thank you so much.
so fascinating and well-delivered. thank you!
Why doesn’t this teacher allow the students to identify and talk interactively amongst their classmates with their own conclusions!
I think it’s a lecture and they’re not supposed to be like that
@@jamiengo2343 It’s the same idea when you go to an art museum and someone tries to lecture you on what the artist is truing to say. Let the viewer find that out for themselves. Jane eyre had multitudes of layers and depths of thought.
Let the reader figure it outs. JMO
@@NEMO-NEMO well in a lecture the idea is you’re supposed to learn about a particular viewpoint/belief from an experienced professional, that’s why you pay the money to go to uni in the first place lol
@@jamiengo2343 You and I both know that, that’s money badly spent.
@@NEMO-NEMO depends on the quality of the lecturer tbh. Though probably. Still planning to go though lmao
Could the concealment of Bertha, taking that she's coloured, be a sort of display of the shame of the colonisation and such of the earlyer English Empire ?
certainly. critics have noted how bertha appears to be an embodiment of rochester, the archetypal coloniser/patriarch's sins against women and the colonised.
she is also everything that is deemed inappropriate in a victorian woman, and so must be concealed from society - the same logic can be applied onto colonised people and especially those that do not conform to traditional ideas of englishness.
and so by exposing bertha in the end, he effectively strips himself of the role of the oppressor, and simultaneously grants jane eyre and bertha mason (in a way) freedom.
but you can also argue that charlotte bronte is far too proud of her english identity to ever have intended bertha's character to embody much more than female oppression wrapped up in a nice package of offensive racial caricature.
Thank you.
I don’t think the text itself subverts Jane’s views of Bertha. That is, the colonialist gaze of Jane (and to some extent Rochester) over Bertha is shared by the text.
Love this...thank you! X
KT NI
I've done a review of this book on my channel
go cathy !
I just stumbled on this. This is a very interesting lecture. I like that she shows similarities in other books about how women are treated. When men wrote most books back then, the last thing they will ever admit is men being in the wrong in respect to women. Most men refuse women any kind of respect.
Thanks 🙏👍
Brilliant!
Ænx